Mariners rally to beat Rays

Cal Raleigh hits a three-run homer in the eighth inning to lift Seattle to a 3-2 win over the Rays during Ichiro Hall of Fame weekend

Cal Raleigh late home run seals Mariners win against Rays

Cal Raleigh delivered a three-run homer in the eighth inning to turn a two-run deficit into a 3-2 win for Seattle over the Rays at T-Mobile Park. After J.P. Crawford and Cole Young singled to set the stage and Randy Arozarena popped out, Raleigh launched a 2-0 pitch from Griffin Jax to right-center, a 417-foot blast that gave the Mariners their first lead of the night.

Rays starter Drew Rasmussen held Seattle to four singles over six innings, keeping Tampa Bay in front until the late swing. Raleigh hit the decisive blast, capping a comeback that followed an otherwise quiet night for the Seattle lineup, part of a 7-1 stretch since the trade deadline additions of Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suarez. Carlos Vargas worked a clean eighth, and Matt Brash struck out the side in the ninth for his second save.

Friday's win shows Seattle growing depth and the impact of the deadline moves. Raleigh late power display gives the Mariners a reliable option in late innings and helps ease pressure on the core stars. The team is building a habit of winning close games, which matters in a tight division race.

Looking ahead, Seattle faces tougher tests, and the win does not erase questions about bullpen consistency. Still, the result reinforces a broader trend: depth and timely hitting can carry a season when margins are thin, especially with Ichiro Hall of Fame weekend fueling fan energy and momentum.

Highlights

Momentum can carry a team but the next game will test it.